Creative Writings

Until recently Rahul Gandhi’s future appeared very bleak. His fortunes were totally tied to the Congress party. The Congress is virtually tottering. The party is racked by infighting, corruption, indiscipline and monumental incompetence. Given these conditions what future could Rahul Gandhi hope for? However, a dramatic change occurred this week. Once again it appears that Rahul might soar to great heights despite the failings of his party.

The change occurred because the BJP led by its president Nitin Gadkari and its former president Rajnath Singh suddenly without visible provocation started to heap criticism against Rahul. Gadkari at great pains made the case that Rahul had no charisma. Rajnath Singh pointed out that Rahul was not a farmer’s son.

But who ever claimed that Rahul was oozing with charisma or that he was an agriculturist? By their unprovoked attack both leaders awakened the entire nation to the question whether Rahul was or was not a charismatic rural leader. By attacking Rahul both leaders conveyed to the entire nation that the biggest threat they perceived to their own party came from Rahul. Naturally even the media took notice. Rahul’s sudden unearned publicity gives him enormous strength.

All the secular anti-BJP voters across the country, and they are legion, will now rally around Rahul. They will make him their saviour to demolish the Sangh Parivar. The dizzy heights to which Rahul may now climb appear irreversible. Reporters sought public reaction to BJP’s criticism of Rahul. One person interviewed said: “I used to pay little attention to Rahul. But after the BJP’s attack I think I may have missed seeing some great qualities in him!” This reaction reflected the general public mood.

However there does remain one option to derail Rahul’s rise to power. If the BJP leaders reverse their stand and start lavishing reckless praise on Rahul the tide could turn. Overwhelmingly the public would in disgust turn against Rahul for being an icon of the BJP. The BJP leaders unfortunately cannot adopt this brilliant strategy. Were they to do so all their hardcore followers led by Varun Gandhi, who thrive only on abuse, would dump Gadkari. They would join in praising Rahul only if he too like Varun defected to the BJP. In that event Rahul could be either a fringe leader like Varun Gandhi or a totally marginalized Congress nobody.

However there seems little possibility of the BJP adopting the bold strategy of destroying Rahul through praise. Rahul’s future therefore appears as firm as a rock. He is the lucky recipient of good fortune. However there is no evidence to support the widespread suspicion that Rahul’s PR advisers bribed BJP leaders to abuse him.